Why China views the UK visit as part of something bigger

"Beijing is not always the most welcoming place in winter. Frigid air blows in from the north, blast-freezing the city's lakes and rivers and only the hardiest souls would dare to plunge into the icy water. And yet, in the last two months, leaders from around the world have accepted invitations to the Chinese capital. There's been a flurry of visits from France, South Korea, Ireland, Canada and Finland."

"He seems to be guaranteed a warm welcome, especially after the UK recently approved plans for a Chinese mega-embassy in London. Officials in China had already warned their counterparts that they would not announce the prime minister's visit until this issue was resolved. Reuters But both sides are now ready to get around the table and for the UK, dozens of new deals are on the line to boost the country's economy."

"For China, this is part of a charm offensive in the hope that some will now look at Beijing as a stable, predictable partner - in contrast to the US. It seemed to work with Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, who visited earlier this month. He has blazed a trail for other world leaders by travelling to Beijing and announcing a "new strategic partnership with China". Even before his speech in Davos, Carney told reporters in the Chinese capital that the global order was at a "point of rupture.""

Beijing has hosted a wave of foreign leaders in recent months, with visitors from France, South Korea, Ireland, Canada and Finland and the German chancellor due next month. Sir Keir Starmer is the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years. Approval of plans for a Chinese mega-embassy in London helped enable a warm reception, after Chinese officials warned they would not announce the visit until that issue was resolved. Both sides are preparing talks in which dozens of UK-China deals to boost the British economy are at stake. China is pursuing a charm offensive to be seen as a stable, predictable partner compared with the US, an approach reinforced by Mark Carney's declaration of a "new strategic partnership with China" and his warning that the global order was at a "point of rupture."

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